Name: Samantha Belicek
Age: 21
Hometown: Georgetown, TX
School: Southwestern University
Major/Minor: Spanish/Mathematics
Site/s where you have served: Oak Cliff
Q: Why did you want to serve full-time as a PT intern?
I wanted to spend my summer working with youth in a teaching capacity, so PT was right up my alley.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned from working with underserved children/youth?
I would say that the most important lesson I learned from working with these youth was that a kid is a kid is a kid—they are all looking for acceptance from their peers and for a role model. Underserved children and youth have sometimes seen and lived through tougher circumstances than most other people, but at heart they are no different from any other children or youths. If anything, they just need this acceptance and someone to look up to more than others.
Q: How has PT affected your faith journey?
PT was a growing experience on my faith journey. Some of my beliefs—not just about God, but also about society and my role as an individual—were challenged, and some were cemented. I did learn more about who I am and what is really important to me as far as my faith is concerned.
Q: How has your experience with PT helped you to better understand your gifts and your calling?
My experience with PT reinforced my feeling that I am called to work with youth in some capacity. This was my first time being around youth of this age so often and regularly, and I found that I really enjoyed it. PT also brought forth and strengthened characteristics that I will need to fulfill this calling, such as patience, organization, and the ability to deal with the unexpected.
Q: What is your favorite part of the Project Transformation experience?
My favorite part of PT was being at the site and around my youth.
Q: What are your future vocational plans and how has PT helped to shape or clarify those plans?
I currently plan to obtain a Masters in Education. in the next few years. I may eventually attempt to become a school administrator and directly affect the policies by which students learn. In the meantime, I am doing my best to gather a diverse range of experiences related to teaching youth.
Q: What have you learned from living with other young adults in such a diverse Christian community?
The main thing I learned from living together with so many people is that it can be frustrating to balance the desires of so many diverse individuals. However, it can also be very fun. Some of my favorite memories related to community living include spontaneous ultimate Frisbee and ping pong games. On the other hand, living together with my team meant that any stressors that originated at site were brought home with us, and we had to learn to deal with those in a productive manner.
Q: What is the most important thing you will take away from serving through Project Transformation?
The most important thing I took away from PT is the knowledge that I can relate well to youth and the experience I gained over the entire summer.
Q: What advice would you give to a young adult who is interested in serving as a PT intern?
I was a little nervous about living in a city I’d only visited once, hours away from my family and friends, and having to face untold challenges and high expectations. But facing those fears and stepping outside your comfort zone is an important part of growing—in many different ways. I would advise anyone who is interested in serving as a PT intern to make that leap and be open-minded about what the summer may hold.